mo4ch:>No invitation for Pakistani PM to Modi’s swearing-in rooted in ‘Pakistan bashing’ campaign – FM | Mo4ch News

Pakistan has responded to reports that India has not invited PM Imran Khan to Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, blaming internal politics and recent “Pakistan-bashing” employed by Modi during the election campaign.Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi explained to the Geo News program that the snub had been expected by Islamabad, as Modi had employed anti-Pakistan rhetoric during India’s grueling five-week election process.His [Modi’s] entire focus [during the election campaign] was on Pakistan-bashing. It was unwise to expect that he can get rid of this narrative [soon].Earlier, New Delhi invited leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)—which alongside India includes Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan—to Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. When Modi first took office in 2014, Pakistan’s then leader, Nawaz Sharif, attended the inauguration alongside leaders of the South Asian Associa…